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Working through emotions and washing out closet baseboards

In: Do-It-Yourself-Moms, Family, For the Home

Yeah. Most of my closet baseboards are clean now. It’s funny, I started deep cleaning/organizing my house from one side to the other. But now that I’m officially half way to being finished, the “other” side is looking rather terrible. It’s like a giant mudslide. As I work from one side of the house to the other, things slowly end up piling up on the other end. But despite the impending doom that seems to be upon the “other” side’s outside walls, there have been quite a few happy moments around here in the last few days….

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I’m learning that the best method is the one of sheer determination. So, I’ve taken everything out of one place and put it on a blanket in a central location. For instance – when I worked on the kitchen, I took everything out of the kitchen cabinets and put it all on a blanket on the kitchen table. Then, I put back everything I needed. Then, I dumped the blanket (and all that was left – I mean, really, who needs three 9×13 pyrex dishes??!) into my yardsale box. Β Too bad I don’t have a photo of the mountain that was on my table. Whoever comes to my yard sale is gonna think they’ve hit the jackpot. From Pampered Chef cheese knives to microwave steamers, they’ll walk away with their $0.50 treasures, and I’ll think “Hee hee hee – they’re about to fill their kitchen with stuff a semi-professional caterer didn’t even use. Have fun finding a space for that.” πŸ™‚

After I cleaned things out, before I put them back, I did a bit of cleaning. Under my fridge. Do you have any idea what happens under your fridge? I didn’t. Now I do. Never again will I let it go on and on for five years (yeah, that’s an admission). Here’s what it looked like.

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Then, I swept.

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Still gross. So I pulled out my wonder mop. Well, actually, it’s a Eureka Steam Mop. (Which, I must point out, is currently $49 – which is 38% off the regular price of $79 on amazon right now, with free shipping. So if you have hardwood/laminate floors, go get one.) But it’s wonderful. And it wonderfully works wonders with water while I work.

*Pauses briefly to bow to high school English teacher who loved aliteration*. πŸ™‚

Basically it only uses water, plugs in, produces steam that’s so hot it not only cleans, but it also sanitizes. I didn’t even scrub this five years of neglect away. All I did was set that wonderful water worker wonder on top of sticky stuff and let the steam do it’s work.

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Awesome, right? Β Then all I have to do is take one of the two washable pads that comes with it, throw it in the washer, and attach it right back when I’m finished.

And it’s so clean that, theoretically, you can eat off of it. I didn’t try. But if we ever have any bug visitors, at least now they won’t get sick taking away the crumbs from under my fridge. (Thankfully, we have a bug man – so, no worries, we don’t get bugs.)Β Now that you’re totally grossed out for the rest of the day, let’s move on…. πŸ™‚Β 

I have a large open kitchen space. But not a lot of drawers. In fact, there are only two small drawers in my kitchen. One holds my silverware. The other is prime real estate. But so is some of my cabinets. And my 32 jars of spices were taking up too many of those cabinets. Yep. Thirty-two. And none of them are expired. Because I use them all all the time. Along with the 9 extracts. Nine.

So until I get my laundry room/pantry painted and fixed up just like I want it, this is my temporary solution. And it’s worked wonderfully. So worth my one drawer.

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So now, I’m on to the task I’ve been dreading – the girls’ clothes. I’m thinking they don’t need enough shirts to dress them for three weeks. Especially considering that they only wanna wear their three princess dresses anyway. So, I’m simplifying, de-cluttering, driving my husband crazy with the current disarray, etc. πŸ™‚ But in all of this, I’m keeping my mind busy, and for this week, and last, and the next, this is really good for me.

Meanwhile, back to my kids….

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Kim


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13 comments

  • Megan

    January 16, 2013 at 8:54 am

    So when is the yard sale? I could use some kitchen things

    Reply

  • Kim

    January 16, 2013 at 8:55 am

    Haha! Ill let you know! (And I’m guessing this one didn’t make you cry?) πŸ˜‰

    Reply

  • Megan

    January 18, 2013 at 12:49 am

    No I didn’t cry…I laughed! And I would be glad to buy at least one of your 13 x 9’s. I working on a hope chest πŸ™‚

    Reply

  • janis

    January 16, 2013 at 11:17 am

    I have the steam mop too, love it!!!

    Reply

  • Jan Evett

    January 16, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    I just ordered the steam mop from Amazon! They should pay you commission. Glad you are keeping busy. Thanks for sharing your smart tips for organizing and deep cleaning. When my new mop arrives could you all make a trip to the beach to help me clean my kitchen? I would LOVE that!!

    Reply

  • Kim

    January 16, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    Uhhh…the beach? Shoot yeah! πŸ™‚ We’ll mop floors all day long for that! πŸ™‚

    Reply

  • Jan Evett

    January 16, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    I graduated from Southeastern Seminary (Wake Forest) in December! yay!! M. A. in biblical counseling. Now I am back in my home in Panama City, FL on the Gulf Coast. Come to the beach!!

    Reply

  • Rob

    January 17, 2013 at 12:44 am

    I have(had) 3 pyrex 9×13’s until one of them was left on a burner and it exploded…
    I actually use(d) all 3 pretty regularly…

    Reply

  • Fudging Ahead

    January 18, 2013 at 3:19 am

    I organize my spices the same way! I have probably close to 40 or 50 of them. I had a drawer at my old kitchen, and made one at my new house, too. So much better than a cabinet, or those spinny contraptions.

    Reply

  • Kim

    January 18, 2013 at 10:15 am

    “Spinny contraptions” – I love that!!! Yeah – those never worked for me either!! I’m gonna hit up ikea next week though for some spice jars and racks – so I can have this drawer too for things – but yeah – the drawer right by the stove is super handy. I love it!!

    Reply

  • Tamie

    January 19, 2013 at 10:06 pm

    Haha, I have two double deck “spinny contraptions” full of extracts and spices! I also have 5 9×13 pyrex pans…yes I use all of it! But, I do have a large family, 6 kids, 3 with spouses and 5 grands! So when I need them I have ’em!
    Thanks for all your wonderful posts Kim. I’m so glad you have found a way to keep your mind busy, just contiune to keep your heart full with Gods love & grace and your beautiful family!

    Reply

  • Anna

    January 24, 2013 at 9:58 pm

    Love the spice drawer idea! Organizing is so much fun, especially the de-cluttering part. My Mom doesn’t let me help her anymore when I visit home, I’m that good. LOL

    Reply

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